Forensic Osteology and Field Recovery Methods

Entry requirements

A first or second class honours degree in biological anthropology or other associated fields (eg., Forensic Science; Archaeology; Anatomy). In certain circumstances, we will consider students who have not followed a conventional education path. These cases are assessed individually.

All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Forensic osteology is the scientific study of human bones, used to identify individuals, determine cause of death, and shed light on the past.

During this one year course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to identify, excavate and analyse human skeletal remains. With access to over 1,000 human skeletons in our Human Osteology Lab, you will learn to find evidence of trauma, disease and cause of death.

You will use histological sectioning of human tissue, dental pathology and high-resolution microscopy to aid skeletal identification. You will develop advanced fieldwork skills in our outdoor taphonomy facility where you will excavate and recover skeletal remains and can examine the decomposition of organic material.

In our Crime Scene Facility you will learn how to preserve evidence, recover remains, and present expert evidential reports to the highest standard. The theoretical knowledge and practical experience gained on this course will give you the competitive advantage for a career in the police force, archaeology or further academic research.

This course can also be taken part-time over two years.

Information for international students

Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Please note that international fee-paying students cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.

English language entry requirements

The University requires all non-native speakers of English to reach a minimum standard of proficiency in written and spoken English before beginning a postgraduate degree. Certain subjects require a higher level.

For detailed information see our English language requirements web pages.

Need help with English?

Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.

Fees and funding

For further information about funding, including scholarships, please visit our funding web pages.